2018

A major report released today has found wide disparities in the use of some health treatments and investigations – revealing potentially adverse outcomes for the youngest members of the community as well as older Australians.

In 2017, around one-third of prescriptions for antimicrobials in participating Australian hospitals were assessed as not compliant with treatment guidelines. Almost 1 in 4 antimicrobial prescriptions were assessed as inappropriate.

A new nationally agreed standard of care released today aims to reduce the tens of thousands of Australian lives put at risk each year by largely preventable blood clots, which kill four times more people than road accidents.

A review of the Australian Health Service Safety and Quality Accreditation (AHSSQA) Scheme, released today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), identifies improvements to be made to the way that health services are assessed to the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

Carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (also known as CPE) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae continue to be the most commonly reported organisms with critical resistances to antimicrobials across Australia, according to a national report released today.

A practical resource to support health services deliver better and more appropriate health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was launched today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) at the Council of Australian Governments’ (COAG) meeting in Alice Springs.

The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli), often thought of as a stomach bug, is in fact the most common bacterial cause of potentially dangerous bloodstream infections – and new data shows the germ responsible is becoming more resistant to the antibiotics doctors rely on to treat it.

The number of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea samples reported to health authorities nearly trebled in the six months to September 2017, reinforcing worldwide concern over the spread of this and other types of dangerous drug-resistant bacteria.

More than half (60%) of antibiotics given to patients after surgery to prevent infections are prescribed inappropriately, usually because they are not required at all – a situation that may be contributing to the rise of antibiotic resistance.

This Antibiotic Awareness Week the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is urging health professionals and the public to ‘be part of the solution’ and take action to preserve the power of antibiotics and slow the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The latest version of a guide to help hospitals implement electronic prescribing and reduce adverse drug events is being launched today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

The first nationally agreed standard of care for women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding says women should be offered less invasive treatments before considering a hysterectomy – a major operation best done only when other treatments are not suitable.

A global drive to reduce medication errors by 50% within five years will be launched in Brisbane today, as part of a new push by the World Health Organization to save lives and reduce the harm caused by medication mix-ups.

A comprehensive national report on the spread of antimicrobial resistance in Australia has highlighted a number of specific types of bacteria as major emerging healthcare problems, with one type in particular causing resistance to last-resort antibiotics in just over half of hospital samples.

The cost of clinical trials investigating gaps in medical evidence is outweighed almost six to one by the savings that flow from the health improvements experienced by patients, and the direct savings to the health system and wider economy.

One of Australia’s most distinguished and respected healthcare leaders, Professor Villis Marshall AC, has been reappointed to the role of Board Chair for the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to guide the organisation for a further three years.

A new surveillance system set up to provide early warning of the spread of dangerous bacteria has detected more than 1,000 cases across Australia resistant to last-line antibiotics – giving experts much better and more timely information to help combat the threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Use of antibiotics has dropped markedly in Australian hospitals, new figures show – a shift that will help slow the spread of antibiotic resistant germs that cause dangerous infections that are difficult to treat.

A landmark new report to be launched today shows large variations in the provision of common health treatments across the country – giving health experts and clinicians valuable new information that will help to ensure more patients get the most effective and appropriate care.

Evidence-based management of anaemia and iron deficiency before surgery greatly improves patient care, an innovative project led by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Heath Care has shown.

The project, which has representation from 12 health services and is known as the National Patient Blood Management Collaborative (the Collaborative), aimed to increase the number of patients who had their haemoglobin and iron stores optimised before elective surgery.

Surgery should be considered a last resort for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, under a new clinical care standard released today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and which is designed to help patients get the best care.

A tool to help people make the most of their medical appointments has been launched today, Thursday 11 May.

Called Question Builder, the tool guides patients through a series of steps, from selecting which type of appointment they are preparing for, to selecting the most important questions to ask first. It then creates a list of questions that a patient can print or email to themselves, or someone else, and take to their medical appointment.

Friday 5 May is international Hand Hygiene Day, and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is joining the World Health Organization to highlight the role that clean hands can play in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotic medicines.

2016

The urgent need to tackle growing antibiotic resistance is the focus of an awareness campaign backed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) in partnership with other leading health and livestock organisations and agencies.

Patients with hip fracture should receive surgery within 48 hours of arriving at hospital and start moving around the day after surgery, if possible, according to a new care standard launched by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has released a Delirium Clinical Care Standard to support safe, high quality and appropriate care for patients with, or at risk of delirium.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has released a landmark report outlining the most comprehensive picture of antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use and appropriateness of prescribing in Australia to date.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) and the Western Australian Department of Health have developed the DIP 4 Kids App to support a reduction in unwarranted exposure to radiation from CT scans for children.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has launched a national campaign to improve knowledge and care practices to provide better outcomes and reduce the risk of harm to people with cognitive impairment in hospital.

2015

The Honourable Sussan Ley, Australian Minister for Health, launches the first national healthcare ‘atlas’, illuminating variation in health care provision across Australia.

The Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation presents a clear picture of substantial variation in healthcare use across Australia, across areas such as antibiotic prescribing, surgical, mental health and diagnostic services.

World Antibiotic Awareness Week (16-22 November 2015) aims to increase awareness of the growing problem of global antibiotic resistance, and encourage best practice across the health, veterinary and agriculture sectors in using antibiotics responsibly.

A new report on antimicrobial use in Australian hospitals shows there is wide variation in usage between hospitals, indicating that although overall usage rates have decreased slightly in recent years, there is still considerable room for improvement.

The report, Antimicrobial use in Australian hospitals: 2014 report of the National Antimicrobial Utilisation Surveillance Program (NAUSP), released today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), provides important information on how much antimicrobials are being used in Australian hospitals.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) has today released a range of resources aimed at reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to children and young people from computed tomography scans (CT scans).

The latest report on antimicrobial prescribing practices provides important information about the rate and appropriateness of antimicrobial use in Australian hospitals.

The report, National Antimicrobial Prescribing Practice: results of the 2014 National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS), was released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) and the National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship (NCAS) at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.

Improving the early assessment and management of patients with stroke is the focus of a new Clinical Care Standard, which was launched today at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital by the Honourable Sussan Ley, Australian Government Minister for Health and the Honourable Jillian Skinner, NSW Minister for Health.

A new consensus statement describing the essential elements for providing safe and high-quality care at the end of life has been endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers as the national approach to the delivery of end-of-life care in Australian hospitals.

The consensus statement was launched today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Brisbane, as part of National Palliative Care Week.

2014

Thousands of Australians are affected by acute coronary syndromes (heart attacks and suspected heart attacks) every year. Despite well-developed management guidelines, there are regional variations in treatment interventions across Australia.

Improving early, accurate diagnosis and management of acute coronary syndromes is the focus of a new standard for clinical care which was launched today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission).

A national report released today as part of Antibiotic Awareness Week, provides important information about antibiotic prescribing practices in a number of Australian hospitals.

The report, National Antimicrobial Prescribing Practice: Results of the 2013 National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS), was released by the Melbourne Health National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship and the Commission.

Australia has one of the highest rates of antibiotic use in the developed world, with around 22 million prescriptions written every year in primary care alone. In hospitals, 30% of antibiotics prescribed are used inappropriately*.

A new standard for clinical care, which will drive appropriate use of antibiotics, was launched today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission). The launch of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Clinical Care Standard coincides with Antibiotic Awareness Week, a global initiative to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and promote the responsible use of antibiotics.

Today marks the beginning of international Antibiotic Awareness Week and Australian experts in human and animal health have joined forces to highlight the escalating problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, Professor Chris Baggoley said, “AMR is a global public health issue and continues to be one of the major threats to human health. There is a real concern that without new antibiotics in the development pipeline some infections will be difficult or impossible to treat.”

It’s time to start talking about mental health. There remains a stigma about mental illness in mainstream Australia. The Australian Private Hospital’s Association (APHA) has launched a campaign to address the stigma head on, in a confronting and yet non-threatening way. Coinciding with Mental Health Week (5-12 October 2014), ‘The Elephant in the Room’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the prevalence of mental illness and encourage all Australians to speak openly about the issue.

The management of common health conditions varies considerably depending upon where people live, according to an OECD Report released today.

The report, Geographic Variations in Health Care: What do we know and what can be done to improve health system performance?, examines regional variation in the rates of several common hospital interventions both within and between 13 participating countries.

We are very pleased to announce the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care’s (the Commission) success at the APAC Forum – Asia Pacific’s premier healthcare conference.

The Commission and the Australian, state and territory health departments received the award for National Partnership in the Implementation of Improved Safety Systems for Patients for implementation of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards.

Almost 60% of Australians have a low level of individual health literacy. This is important to the safety, quality and effectiveness of health care, according to the National Statement on Health Literacy (national statement) released today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission).

The introduction of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, and assessment against these Standards in the acute sector is driving changes in health service delivery and improving patient safety and the quality of care provided. It is hoped that these changes will improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples accessing health care.

In a collaborative project with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, jurisdictions, health services and others, the Commission is working towards improving the safety of care provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in main stream health services.

By determining the areas of greatest safety risk, the Commission and its partners can develop resources to support main stream health services to implement culturally appropriate safety systems and quality services. Information gained from the project will also inform the revision of the NSQSH Standards scheduled to commence in 2015.

The Commission has announced the appointment of Dr. Robert Herkes as its new Clinical Director. This important role provides expert clinical advice across all of the Commission’s nationally coordinated health care safety and quality priority programs.

The management of common health conditions varies considerably depending upon where people live, according to a discussion paper released today by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The paper, Exploring Healthcare Variation in Australia, examines variation in the rates of several common procedures, such as knee surgery and hysterectomy, undertaken in hospitals during 2010-11.

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and the Commission have embarked on a project to develop a governance and reporting framework for general practice accreditation in Australia.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), today announced the appointment of Professor John Turnidge as a Senior Medical Advisor to lead work on a national surveillance program for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic usage (AU).

Under the 2013/14 Australian Federal Budget, the Commission has been funded to coordinate national action to prevent and contain antimicrobial resistance through enhanced surveillance systems.

Find Us

Newsletter

Sign up

Sign up to receive regular emails about safety and quality in health care.

Choose a list*

Your Full Name*

Your Email Address*

I agree to the Commission collecting my information.*

Yes

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care collects personal information when the information is necessary for, or directly related to, the Commission’s functions or activities.
All personal information is held and treated in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 and the Commission’s Privacy Policy: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/privacy/

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) considers there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence for it to be satisfied that the risks to patients associated with the use of single incision mini‐slings for the treatment of SUI outweigh their benefits. These products have been removed from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG)

* Grades of Recommendation

This pathway is adapted from UroGynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA) Surgical treatment of SUI pathway (2016)

In the short-term there are similar success rates for retropublic and transobturator

A

Obturator tapes slightly quicker, with less blood loss, bladder perforation and voiding dysfunction difficulties. Most of these differences were small and the complications are readily able to be managed.

A

However in the medium term (>5 years) the reoperation for recurrent SUI greater in obturator group and a small number developed groin pain (3-4%) that is difficult to treat.

B

Retropubic considered as the preferred procedure with transobturator reserved for those patients with a hostile abdomen

C

* Grades of Recommendation

This pathway is adapted from UroGynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA) Surgical treatment of SUI pathway (2016)

In the short‐term there are similar success rates for retropubic and transobturator mid urethral slings

A

Obturator tapes are slightly quicker, with less blood loss, bladder perforation and voiding dysfunction difficulties. Most of these differences were small and the complications are readily able to be managed.

A

However in the medium term (>5 years) the reoperation for recurrent SUI greater in obturator group and a small number developed groin pain (3-4%) that is difficult to treat.

B

Retropubic considered as the preferred procedure with transobturator reserved for those patients with a hostile abdomen

C

* Grades of Recommendation

This pathway is adapted from UroGynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA) Surgical treatment of SUI pathway (2016)

Similar success rates compared to MUS with longer operating time and possibly higher voiding dysfunction; fascial sling has lower rates of chronic pelvic pain, no risk of erosion or extrusion, and higher rates of post‐operative morbidity